Puzzle



, instructive.

According to this invention, a plurality Fatented Aug. 7, 1923.

EYE

I LOUIS H. HABTMAN, 01E PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

rqzzLE.

Application filed March 17, 1921. Serial No. 453,069.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS II. HARTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to puzzles of the kind in which a given number of blocks having characters thereon are arranged in a holder in such manner that they may be shifted around to accomplish a desired result, and has for its object to provide a puzzle which will be both entertaining and of blocks having numerals thereon are placed in a container, in which they may be moved about to a limited extent, the object being to shift the blocks around so that the sums of the numerals On any two of the blocks placed side by side across the container is equal to the highest numeral appearing on one of the blocks, and the sum of the numerals on the blocks in each row longitudinally of the container is a given amount, preferably a multiple of the highest number of the series.

My invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying draw ings, in which,- I

Fig. l is a perspective View of a puzzle made in accordance with my invention, with the blocks arranged in starting position;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the puzzle, with the blocks re-arranged to accomplish the object of the puzzle;

Fig. 3 is a modification.

The invention comprises a rectangular container boX A, in which are placed an odd number of blocks B. The blocks are preferably square or oc'tagons of the same size, and their dimensions are such that, when arranged in rows across the box, the row may extend completely across the box and there will be substantially no space at the ends of the rows, and, when arranged in longitudinal rows, a row may be formed extending the complete length of the holder, and there will be substantially no space at the ends.

In the device illustrated, where eleven blocks are used, two blocks will just evenly extend across the box, and six blocks arranged in a longitudinal row will extend just the length of the holder, there being just suflicient play or looseness to permit the easy manipulation of the block. The top faces of the blocks a-re provided with consecutive numbers or suitable characters. In the device shown, the blocks are numbered from one to eleven inclusive.

With eleven square blocks in a container or holder, as shown, there may be formed five complete cross rows with two blocks in each, and one complete longitudinal row of six blocks. vided which is of just sufficient size to accommodate ne block. In other words, there is one less block in the holder than the holder will contain.

In the device as shown, it is the object to arrange the blocks as shown in Fig. 2, in which the sum of the two blocks in each of the cross rows equals eleven, the number on the last block of the series and the sum of the numbers in each of the horizontal rows is thirty-three. The blocks are first arranged in numerical order, as shown in Fig. 1. In working out the puzzle, the blocks may not be lifted out of the holder, but the rearrangement is effected by properly sliding the blocks. By'reason of the empty space being provided, such sliding of the blocks may be effected.

With the blocks as arranged in Fig. 1, the blocks must be so manipulated. that block No. 1 may be placed beside block No. 10. This would be done by slidingblock No. 10 next to block N0. 11, changing the position of space ing the other blocks. By sliding the blocks around, one at a time, blocks with the nunumerals 1 and 10 be placed side by side, and in like manner blocks 2 and 9; 3 and 8; i and 7; and 5 and 6 may be arranged side by side.

Considerable skill and practice is necessary, however, before one can manipulate the blocks to rearrange them in this manner, with blocks having numbers 6, 7 8, 2 and 10 in the same row so that the sum of the numbers in that row is thirty-three, and the other blocks having numbers 11, '1, 9, 3, 4 and 5 are in the other row, their sum also being thirty-three. Thirty-three is a multiple of the highest number 11'.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the blocks are rectangular in shape, but have the corners cut, rather than being square. This adds to the attractiveness of the puzzle,

C, and then suitably shift-1 A space C is thereby proare different colors.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a unique puzzle which, while being entertaining, will be of educational value, especially for children, the numbers being those used in simpleproblems of addition.

I claim as my invention:

1. A puzzle comprising a holder, a plurality of blocks in the holder of the same size, there being one less block than the holder will; accommodate in order to provide a space capable of accommodating a single block, which space permits allot the blocks to be moved around in the container but only one at a time, said blocks being consecutively numbered so that when arranged to. solve the puzzle, the sums of the numbers on any transverse row of blocks in the container is equal to the highest number of the series.

- 2. "A puzzle comprising a rectangular holder, a plurality of blocks arranged in the holder, said blocks having the same size and shape, said holder permitting the blocks to be arranged in transverse rows of two blocks in each row, thereby "forming two longitudinal rows, one of said rows extending the length of the holder, and the other row having one block less to provide a space sufficient to accommodate one block to thereby permit the blocks to be shifted about while remaining in the holder, said blocks being consecutively numbered, and when properly arranged the sums of the numbers in each transverse row should equal the highest number of the series.

3. A puzzle comprising a rectangular holder, a plurality of blocks arranged in the holder, said blocks having the same size and shape, said holder permitting the blocks to i be arranged in transverse rows oi two blocks in. each row, thereby forming two longitudi- 'nal rows, one of said rows extending the length of the holder, and the other row having'one block less to provide a space suliicient to accommodate one block to thereby permitthe blocks to be shifted about while remaining in the holder, said blocks being consecutively numbered, and when properly arranged the sums of the numbers in each transverse row should equal the highest number of the series and the sum of the numbers in each longitudinal row is equal. 4. A puzzle comprising a rectangular holder, an odd number of blocks ot'the same size and shape in the holder, said holder permitting the blocksto be arranged in two longitudinal rows, one of the rows having one more block in it than the other, said blocks also forming a plurality of transverse rows of two blocks each, a space sufliciently large to accommodate one block being formed by reason of the odd numberof blocks, said space permitting the blocks to be shifted about while remaining in the holder, said blocks having different numerals thereon which are consecutive, the numerals being such that when the blocks are properly arranged, thesums of the numeralson each two blocks in every transverse row will be equal to each other and to the numeral on n the odd block.

5. A puzzle comprising a rectangular holder, eleven consecutively numbered blocks in the holder, said blocks being of substantially the same size and shape, and being of such size that six of them may be placed longitudinally of the holder and two of them placed transversely in the holder, said blocks being adapted to form two longitudinal rows, one of which has six blocks and the other five, and live complete transverse rows at all times, a space being formed capable oi accommodating one block to; permit of the positions of the blocks being shifted, the numerals on the blocks being such that when properly arranged, the sum of the numerals in each transverseTrow will be equal to each other and to the numeral on;

theodd block which is not in one of the five transverse rows. A

6. A puzzle comprising a rectangular holder, eleven consecutively numbered blocks in the holder, said blocks being of substantially the same size and shape, and being of such size that six of them may be placed longitudinally of the holder and two of them placed transversely in the'holder, said blocks beingadapted .to form two longitudinal rows, one of which hassix blocks and the other five, and five complete transverse rows at all times, a space being formed capable of accommodating one block to permit of the positions of the blocks being shifted, the numerals on the blocks being such that when properly arranged, the sum of the numerals in each transverse rowwill be equal to each other and to the numeral on the odd block which is not in one of the five transverse rows, and the sum of the numbers in each row will be equal and be a mul tiple of the highest number of the series. a

In. testimony whereof I allix my: s gna ture in presence of two witnesses.-

ouis H. HARTMAQN.

lVitnesses i l Lois lViNuMAN, W. G. D'ooLrrrLii. 

